<span style="color: #222222;">Rebel fighters in the Tigray region of Ethiopia are continuing to gain ground after recapturing the regional capital Mekelle from government forces.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The rebels have now entered the town of Shire, about 140km (90 miles) to the north-west, according to UN officials.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Eritrean troops backing the Ethiopian army had earlier abandoned the city.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The government has declared a ceasefire in the eight-month conflict, but the rebels have vowed to drive their "enemies" from Tigray.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The fighting between the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and government forces has left thousands of people dead.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">More than two million have been displaced and 350,000 pushed towards famine.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"> </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The fighting began in November, when rebels rejected political reforms and captured army bases. Government forces captured Mekelle later that month</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span><br />